§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value of the retirement pension currently paid to retired British citizens resident in Portugal; when it was last increased; and how it compares with the pension currently being paid in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. OrmeA British retirement pensioner resident in Portugal at present receives pension at the rate payable at the time he left the United Kingdom or when his pension was awarded, whichever was510W the later; and this will not have been increased while he has been living in Portugal. The amount paid will vary from case to case, and no general comparison with the current standard rate payable in the United Kingdom is possible. In general, the longer the pension has been paid in Portugal, the lower the proportion of the United Kingdom rate that will be payable. When the new reciprocal agreement with Portugal takes effect, pensioners living in Portugal will receive the increases of pension which became payable thereafter.